Monday, January 31, 2011

To begin the up-do, hairstylist David Babaii swept Nicole Kidman's hair gently over creating a faux side-part and brought the rest of the hair to the center back, securing it with a band just at the top of the nape.

Then, David wrapped the hair into an unstructured chignon and secured it with bobby pins. The secret was not to comb the hair too much or smooth the hair, but instead allow it to appear soft and natural.

Make yourself a Sex and the City-style breakfast with Cynthia Nixon's recipe for scones. These are the same scones her mother makes.

I found this recipe in a spiral-bound cookbook titled "More Recipes & Reminiscence" edited by Broadway production stage manager Roy Harris. It is chock full of stories and food from celebrities who have appeared on Broadway.

This kicky, flared Urban Outfitters dress reminds me of some of the retro-inspired dresses that Michelle Obama loves to wear. For a more formal occasion, you could add a sparkly cardigan and an embellished headband. But if you tossed on some cute bangle bracelets and a faux fur coat, this look would be very fun for brunch and just hanging out with girlfriends.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

I am chillin' California-style after a very hectic week, eating Little Debbie Coconut Crunch donuts, hanging out with my mask on and listening to tunes....yay!

Today, I'm using Origins Out of Trouble mask ($21, Macy's) while typing. Too bad you can't see me now! The scent in this product is a little strong, but the clay is fab for getting rid of breakouts and just makes my skin feel squeaky clean. Also, since I can't afford to go to the spa all the time, it's nice to treat myself at home and save a few pennies.

"I'd love to look like one of these fabulous 70-year-old glamazon women you see in a high budget film funeral scene, with blood red talons and noir Mugler suits, but I think I'm a little more tacky than that. In my dreams, I'd wear those gold robotic Balenciaga leggings with an astrakhan suit jacket and some killer shoes."

Friday, January 28, 2011

With traffic-stopping pipes and ambitious lyrics, Alana Stewart is nothing short of brilliant. The Williamsburg-based singer sounds like a cross between Fiona Apple and Jolie Holland.

Watch the video "Perfervid" here and then read the interview. Prepare to be blown away.

(Also, her song "Momma Said" gives Amy Winehouse a run for her money and was played on BBC radio this week.)

INTERVIEW

Where are you from originally?

A.S.: I was born in New Mexico in the same place where the first atomic bomb went off, the same little military town. It's called Alamogordo. We lived there because my mom's first husband was in the military.

Throughout my whole childhood, I lived in different places like Hawaii, Korea and Florida. Then when my mom divorced her first husband, we moved to Cupertino because her new husband is a software engineer. So I went to high school in Silicon Valley. When I was 17, I moved by myself to San Francisco. That's where I feel like I come from — San Francisco is my city.

What was the difference between having an itinerant life and then a more stable one in Cupertino, which is a pretty nice place right?

There was an increase in our standard of living. My mom's first husband wasn't that great, and he gambled away all of our money, so we were kind of white trash [laughter]. When she divorced him and married her second husband, our standard of living improved a lot. Materially, we had a better life in Cupertino, but it was just tough. My high school was 80 percent Chinese. It was really lonely because I didn't speak the language. I didn't make that many friends.

Then, where did live you in San Francisco?

I moved to Russian Hill. I just got lucky.

What musicians do you look to for inspiration?

Cat Power was really great for me because she uses such simple chord structures and such simple instrumentation, and her simplicity gave me the confidence to write my songs. Because I was like, if Cat Power can command an audience and have such a great following with these songs that only have two chords in them, like C and G, then darn it, I can make a song too. I deserve that. I want the right to make songs too even though I'm not a master guitar player. It gave me a lot of courage.

Also, Feist. If you go to her concerts, she's so cute. Sometimes she forgets the lyrics to her songs. I saw her perform on stage by herself with this looping pedal in this huge theater in SF with over 1,000 people. It was just her, her electric guitar and her voice, and it sounded beautiful.

If you can find the band, the drummer, the lead guitarist, then more power to you. I love full-sounding music. But just because you're by yourself, that doesn't mean that you can't make really good music. So I needed that. I needed like, step one.

When did you start singing professionally or just in general?

I've always been singing. But I started learning to play an instrument when I was about 21. I bought a guitar and a keyboard, and started playing. "Perfervid" was the first song that I ever wrote and learned to play on the guitar. It's just four notes. It's a really simple scale. Anyone can play it.

In San Francisco, I didn't see that many women playing instruments. There are some really cool female performers who are really talented. But I think the difference between men and women is that guys do stuff and they don't really care whether they're good or not. Their egos get ahead of themselves. Women, we have to be really confident in something before we'll let anyone see us do it. When it comes to music, a lot of the women you see making music are really good. And it's because they don't show anybody their stuff until they're really confident — and it's just special.

Finally, I learned how to play the guitar. It was tough at first, and I was really ashamed of myself for not being a master guitar player. But I'm finally at a point where I feel like I sort of know what I'm doing.

Have you had any vocal training?

I took jazz vocal training in high school. Jazz teaches you how to improvise really well.

Did you go to college?

I tried school out, but...I was an advertising major, and then I tried women's studies. But I didn't like women's studies because it only gave me the women's perspective on gender, and it didn't give me the man's perspective of gender. It only showed how women suffered in gender dynamics, and I was interested in both sides of the story. With advertising, I felt really uncomfortable selling people shit that they don't need. I tried it out at City College [in San Francisco] because it was cheaper.

I'm obsessed with gender studies. If you were to visit my apartment, all my books are about like women and economics and labor systems. I'm really obsessed with how men and women cooperate and don't cooperate in life. I like studying how boys become violent, so one of my favorite authors is James Garbarino. He's really good. I read non-fiction all about men, women and children, for the most part. It's kind of weird.

What singers do you like in San Francisco?

There's so many great female songwriters in San Francisco. Honeycomb, they're really good. Sonya Cotton is really good. Jolie Holland was spending a lot of time in San Francisco too.

Do you think that you'll stay a while in New York?

I'll stay here a while because moving is so expensive. Everyone here is working. It's so easy to find musicians to be in a band. It's easy to find videographers. It's so easy to find people for your team, and it makes my life so much easier. I know they're talented. They want to work. They want to be there, which you don't get in a lot of other cities. People are really married to their day jobs in another city. Here, peoples' day jobs are their passion.

Have you lived in Williamsburg the whole time?

I was living in Bushwick for a second with a boyfriend, but we broke up, and ever since then I've been living in Williamsburg. Living with your boyfriend isn't a good idea all the time. It kills the magic.

Do you party late and sleep in, or are you pretty straight and narrow?

I used to party and sleep in. Now, I can't afford to do that. I try to work as much as possible. Right now, I'm working on a screenplay which is a fictional journey to find my biological father. I never knew my father. I'm working with an entertainment attorney, producers and a crew, and trying to find money and people to make the movie with. So I'm spending all my time doing that. It's hard to ask someone for $100,000 or more, but I think it will be okay because I've worked really hard on the script. People seem to think it's good.

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is that my fiancé will die in some really unexpected way. That would really mess up my well-being. He doesn't live in America yet. He's a Swedish citizen. He came here on vacation a while back, and we just fell in love.

How did you meet your fiancé?

He was camping in my neighbor's backyard and I thought that it was really silly that he was sleeping outside while he was on vacation.

Did he bring his own tent from Europe?

He wasn't even in a tent. He put a blanket on the ground. It was so silly.

How long have you been engaged?

Like a couple of months. We met in the summertime. His name is Rickard.

Do you have a mantra, or something you tell yourself when you hit a bump and need to keep on moving?

Higher standards —my whole life. Higher standards for friendship. Higher standards for music and recording quality. Higher standards for everything.

At the Jean Paul Gaultier show, girls lit up the runway in firecracker red lips, winged eyeliner and lots of fake eyelashes.

For the eye look, all you need is a simple eyeliner pen. I recommend Dior liquid eyeliner in black ($33, Sephora). Trace the top of the eyelid in one smooth motion, and then extend the line up and out beyond your eyelashes. The line outside of your eyelashes should swoop and have movement. Be daring and calligraphic! You will notice how the liner veers up and looks a bit Satanic, but you can also make the "wings" curlier for a more demure take. It will take a few strokes to build the "wings." Next, line the inner under-eye area, but only halfway across the eye.

Watch an interview with the designer backstage at his punk cancan show:

He says, "Pouf! I try to make the fission." Man, are the French cute! But I digress.

Finish with red lipstick and loads of mascara. You can save the fake eyelashes for the runway.

**

I also just wanted to give a holler to everyone who read my blog yesterday in London, Paris, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, New York, Mountain View (xox!), Chicago, Minneapolis, Texas, crunchier places like Washington and Canada and yes, even New Jersey. My mom is from New Jersey, so heya to my Jersey girls! I'm not allowed to move there though. She would kill me first. XOXOX

Also, that was Psykko Tico (see my earlier post). Love her to death, but I wouldn't Google her name at work.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Watch a model at Jean Paul Gaultier's runway kick up her legs as high as the sky. (I think this beauty in particular might be "Psykko Tico" because that was quite a can-can - read my earlier post about this too.)

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian use baby products by Mustela! From a distance, it looks like Mustela PhysioBebe Cleansing Fluid is sitting on their bathroom ledge. Is that just for the baby or are they part of the growing number of American women who use baby products as part of their skincare regimen?

I have been wearing red lipstick more often, but you have to be careful. Rather, I have to be careful. It's a good idea to wear lip liner to hold it into place. After applying lip liner first and then lipstick, stick your finger in your mouth, close your mouth and then pull your finger out to catch any excess makeup on the inside of your lips. Then, smile to see if it's on your teeth anyway and if so, blot it with a tissue.

I would check every hour or so to make sure it isn't wandering.

Never trace your lips in lip liner that is darker than your lipstick unless you want to look like....oh, that would be too mean. Use your imagination!

Wearing this "in" shade is so perilous, so I will try to gather some extra tips too. My stomach hurts from the thought of messed up makeup, but also from the delicious smoked salmon platter I devoured last night.ACROSS THE INTERNET

To me, this product is a magic bullet for snowy strolls. It keeps my skin on my face where it belongs. Ultra Repair Cream is a bestseller in Sephora's Bath and Body category. The only flakes you want to see this time of year are snowflakes (and maybe some friends).

This handy device emits special blue light that kills the bacteria beneath the skin's surface that causes acne. While the experts at Bergdorf's warned that this wouldn't cure cystic acne, it is an excellent solution for bacterial acne.The brochure for Tria promises clearer skin within two weeks. It also comes with a disposable cartridge which is replaceable. Blue light is safe, and should not be confused with damaging UVA or UVB rays.

Now, we'll do the math. It can easily cost $600 or more for a series of blue light skin therapy sessions at a dermatologist's office.

If you were to buy the Tria Be Clear starter kit though, it would cost $295 for the device, the cleanser and a rebuilding complex. If you were to use it 14 times or twice a week for 7 weeks, the cost per "session" would be $21. Less than a good lipstick.

(One caveat: I have been told many times that some people do see dramatic results from light therapy treatments, but it doesn't work on everyone. This is true though of almost any skincare regimen.)

Everyone at Bergdorf's has perfect hair, and many of the staff members use the Sedu Revolution styling iron ($159). Felicia Walker Benson of ThisThatBeauty.com, who hosted the Beauty Power Tools event at Bergdorf Goodman on Friday night, raved about this iron. She no longer has to visit the salon frequently and has saved loads of money. Her hair was quite fabulous and sleek.She advised using the iron just once a week with a drugstore heat protection spray.

Also, this model has special, heated curved plates for creating beachy waves and flips. Models without curved plates can accidentally create a "dented" look in your hair. Hate the dented look! Do the wave! The beachy waves part had me sold.

3. Clarisonic Skin Care Brushes

Many young women with acne have seen their skintone improve significantly, and some see their problems vanish altogether, from using this device. You can buy the Clarisonic brush (roughly $150-200) in many places, but Bergdorf's sells it too.

So if you think you might hop go to Bergdorf's to buy the Tria Clarifying Blue Light device, I would recommend investing in this product too.

And if you have very mild acne, I would try the Clarisonic, which is more well-known, to see if it fixes your skintone before investing in the Tria Blue Light gadget.

That's it. The top three.

Talking about electronic devices is kind of a mouthful. I want to be clear and honest though.

**Also, this post is very unusual because I have not tested these devices myself, but recommend them based on the positive feedback from beauty experts at the event and my own online research. I think these products are hot and no one paid me to say that, but encourage you to exercise your best judgment.

P.S. Christian Dior couture dazzling-ness sent my brain into a spell...hope I haven't kept you waiting too long on this article.

Dana B. Myers, the lady behind the independent beauty brand Booty Parlor, will be reading from her new book, "Mojo Makeover: Four Weeks to a Sexier You," tomorrow at the Kips Bay/Murray Hill Borders in New York at 7 pm.

I expect the event will be a little ooh la la, but also quite funny. Tori Spelling and Jennifer Love Hewitt are fans of Dana's line. I hope to try out her Pink Caviar scrub soon. (Love the name!)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

If you have never been to the beauty atrium at Bergdorf Goodman, you should know that everyone there is consummately groomed, knowledgeable about beauty products from A to Z, and speaks their own lingo.

Friday night at Bergdorf's, I felt as at home as Crocodile Dundee, but held onto my reporter's notebook as a life vest.

I hoped that my French designer sweater and gaudy necklace would help people look past my...tangled and perpetually unruly hair, chapped lips and ugly boots I purchased from a camping store. (I am serious about the boots, ladies. Eventually, I slipped into some sparkly flats, and I think God whispered a thank you in my ear for not completely killing the atmosphere in this atrium of amazement.)

At the Beauty Power Tools talk, I looked on at a set of gadgets of every shape and purpose, from microdermabrasion to under-eye fixin'. BG Beauty Girl Felicia explained all of them quickly and assuredly, sharing anecdotes and allowing us to examine all the parts of herself (hair, skin) that she had improved by using these electronics products.

Being named a BG Beauty Girl is quite the honor, and the store doesn't hand out monikers like that to just anyone. Basking in the glory of her beauty was just part of the event, but I thought this was actually quite cool and female empowerment-ish.

I have read that in France if a woman has a great haircut, she won't tell anyone the hairdresser. Everyone at Bergdorf's who looked so fabulous knew so much about how to look so fabulous and was eager to share.....

Saturday, January 22, 2011

As I mentioned in my earlier post, last night I went to Bergdorf's to mingle with the extremely beautiful people. I learned so much though about high-tech beauty gadgets, your brain could not even absorb this information on a Saturday.

So let's talk about lip gloss. Easy.

Bergdorf's Beauty Girl Felicia Walker Benson proved herself a true pro by changing her lip color in the middle of the event from one amazing shade to the next. I had to ask her what one of the lipsticks she wore was, and she busted out a tube of Armour Beauty lip gloss in "Grace."

Friday, January 21, 2011

Late post today...but video is on, gals! My models were so incredible this morning. And I love being in the video director's chair.

Now let me give you the gossip, hot and fast.

There's an event tonight at the Beauty Atrium at Bergdorf Goodman at 6 pm. Felicia Walker Benson of ThisThatBeauty.com will be doing a little talk about trends and beauty power tools. I will tell you all about it this weekend.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

I would like to send a gentle, firm reminder to wear sunscreen in the winter months.

If you wear mineral makeup, I recommend wearing another layer of sunblock, such as Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, underneath your foundation.

Don't forget to put sunblock on hands, arms, noses, foreheads and, if you are fortunate to live in Los Angeles, legs.Also, if you are jetting to a tropical vacation, consider packing a UVSunSense bracelet. This original wristband changes one color when you need to apply a second coat of sunblock, and another color when, after prolonged exposure to the sun, it might be time to just head indoors.

Prevention should be a year-round effort.

***

I have to leave now because I have recruited some new video stars who you will surely worship and adore. The shoot takes place tomorrow! Zoom! Gotta dash!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Today, I was in such a rush but couldn't decide on a single lipstick color. I don't know if it was because I was in an impish mood or just moving at an extremely New York City pace.

Today was Cezanne's birthday, so maybe that was inspiring me to be a bit more creative than usual.

In the end, I blended so many lipsticks I can't even name them all, and tossed Clinique's classic Almost Lipstick in Black Honey into the mix for extra moisture and shine. I think that both the Clinique Almost Lipstick and the Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey look great over so many other colors.

This morning, I am having fashion for breakfast. Who needs coffee when you can wake up to this wool blend shift dress by Barneys New York? Gwen Stefani or Kate Bosworth would look great in this chic, sassy number.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Well, they won't be for sale in Iran, if officials have their way. Read the story here>>

[UPDATED...because my head is filled with girlish notions and rock 'n roll music.] There is something rare and romantic about a mushy, lovey-dovey black market. And will there be secret basements to pick up Charlie Brown Valentine's Day cards with cheesy jokes?

Carrying on....one awesomely illegal byproduct of Iran's ban on rock music is the band Hypernova. These Persian rockers sound like Franz Ferdinand breaking the law.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Super-thrilled that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association came through (see my earlier post) last night. Air kisses to Mark Ruffalo!

Otherwise, I have one word for Angelina Jolie: champagne. I loved her hair and the makeup was just fine and foxy. She's worn nude gowns before, but a shimmering champagne-colored silk dress is really the way to go.

In my mind, actresses should wear champagne, ice blue and pale violet. (There's nothing wrong with bolder colors, like camera-ready ruby red and canary yellow, as well as traditional black and white.) They should not be mistaken for a fern though, even a magical glittering fern.

Friday, January 14, 2011

This reminds me of the Cole Porter lyrics that go "picture Henry Ford without a car / picture heaven's firmament without a star."

After enough fiddling, it appears that if you wear a lot of mascara and it's really cold outside, it kind of looks like you are wearing lipstick anyway. The cold leaves your lips sufficiently ruddy, and the mascara does the heavy lifting.

You can never be too rock 'n roll. Makeup in wild colors might not go over well with "mom," but don't let that stop you from trying this Tokyo-inspired look. Yesterday, I discussed the extra prep work you will want to do before trying an electric color palette. Today, we can get down to business.

1. Take Tokidoki's Perfetto Eyeliner in Donutella, which is a blazing opaque pink, and apply it with a steady hand along your upper eyelash line.

2. Fill in the eyelid area above the solid pink eyeliner with a few dabs of the deep blue Ninja Dog shade from Tokidoki's Robbery Makeup Palette. Smudge so it appears smoky and not too opaque.

3. Reapply more of the Perfetto opaque eyeliner along the upper lash line if any of the blue eyeshadow broke the original line. The more pink, the better.

4. Step it up! Apply Tokidoki Glitter Eyeliner in Skeletro along the outer lower corners of your eyelids. Don't drag the eyeliner across the entire lower lash line because it might appear too heavy. Just add a touch around the corners. Smudge with an eyeliner brush or your ring finger.

5. Make this head-turning eye look even better with a few sweeps of Smashbox Bionic Mascara. Perfection!

You can apply moisturizer, foundation and, of course, concealer under the eyes either before or after steps 1 through 5.

Clean brows are a must.Brush well-groomed eyebrows with Smashbox's Brow Tech to Go for extra polish.

Moisturize before with lotion, and after with a mist.As always, use your regular moisturizer before applying foundation or just blush. Misting your face will help set makeup. Products like Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Facial Mist ($8, available at the Sephora in Columbus Circle) make a very dramatic difference.

It's kind of funny how it's helpful to be slightly more "uptight" when going out on a limb.

Be a regular reader! Check back tomorrow for more beauty news and learn how to give yourself a totally electric makeover.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Be a copycat: Sweep Lorac blush in Pink ($19) on the apples of your cheeks and blend. For the lips and eyes, use Make Up For Ever Lab Shine gloss in Shimmering Diamond ($18, just hitting Sephora stores now) and DiorShow mascara ($24, Dior.com).Another Tidbit: "Like" Lily.B Skincare on Facebook and receive a 30% off discount coupon.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Today's look: I am wearing a melange of brown and silver eye shadows on my eyelids only. I applied a brown eye shadow across most of the lid, but stopped two-thirds of the way across, and filled in the rest of the blank area (closest to my nose) with a silver shadow. Blend the two shades, so it won't look blocky. This go-anywhere look is pretty for daytime and night.

My inspiration: This weekend, I was out with new friends when Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" popped on the stereo. I once had an amigo who told me the song was about his aunt, and I remember thinking that this was very likely. He had a very relaxed and positive "aura."

Hey where did we go,Days when the rains cameDown in the hollow,Playin' a new game,

Back in the Eighties, many fashionable women were interested in a book called, "Color Me Beautiful," written by Carole Jackson. A companion book called "Color Me Beautiful MakeUp Book" was released in 1987.

Jackson's central tenet was that once women figured out whether their coloring was "autumn," "winter," "spring" or "summer," they could dress and wear makeup according to their "season's color palette."

The "Color Me Beautiful MakeUp Book" is chock full of Hot Power Women, freaky hair-dos, and 800 pounds of blush. A caption for this photo reads, "Doreen has typical Winter coloring: light olive skin, dark brown eyes, and black-brown hair. She looks wonderful in all the vivid colors of the Winter palette."

Too hot. Quelle accessories!

Granted, the advice in this book is 100% retro and cuckoo comprehensive. But here's one tip you could try out. Just don't blame Eyeshadow Government if you end up looking a little like Joan Collins! Channel your inner diva, yo.

On cheeks:

"You don't have to be born with the fashionably high cheekbones so many glamorous models have. Here's how they get them. First, find your cheekbones with your fingertips. With your under-eye brush, dot a line of highlighter along the top edge of each cheekbone up to the hairline, then gently pat with fingertips to blend. Next, take your contour shade and make a similar line of dots along the bottom edge of each cheekbone, in the hollow of your cheek , and blend once again. Now, lightly press your sponge, still damp with your regular foundation over your cheekbones to soften the sculpting. If you want to intensify the effect, you can lightly dust your tinted contour powder just under your cheekbones, using a fan brush."

Friday, January 07, 2011

Rodarte's spring 2010 runway show opened with the track "Future Primitives" by the West Coast band Papercuts. More recently, Papercuts remixed a song by the indie pop outfit Still Flyin' called "Victory Walk." I just got my hands on it. Listen to the MP3 here. Quite very cool. Enjoy!

**Emmanuelle Alt is the chic replacement for the eternally foxy Carine Roitfeld. Are all the other rumors true? Avez-vous du feu?

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Luxury shopping site Gilt.com kicked off its fitness event today with plenty of options for serious gym bunnies as well as newbies like myself. Do you love it? I fancy Beyond Yoga's orchid one-shoulder cami, Puma's adorable two-toned mesh tank top with a built-in bra, and an attractive pair of blue Reebok shoes. I definitely could use an extra pair of sneakers, and the prices can't be topped.

(Once again, my New Year's Resolution is to exercise, and the attire I thought I would wear to the gym is a little too attention-grabbing and casual. At my gym, the hot girls slip out of their Alexander Wang boots and into very sleek exercise attire.)

If you are a makeup addict, there's no reason to exercise with a plain face because hey, we're not in the Army. I have been wearing the usual to the treadmill: BareMinerals foundation in Light and Chanel lipsticks in every shade and variation. It's minimalist (for me). And, um, did I mention all the gorgeous boys? My life is so cool lately!

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Today, I was bumbling around a very nice shop, when I happened upon a display for a very well-known beauty expert's line. Even Madonna goes to her.

I recognized the usual products from her line, but then there was a new "mist" situated right in the center that tempted me. The problem is that I quickly sprayed my face with this mist, but this mist was designed to fragrance, like, your living room. Not skin. Ack times three!

All of the ingredients were organic and natural, so it wasn't the end of the world. But if you can imagine me frantically reaching for eight tissues, then you will know what my day was like....

I removed it with heaps of Arcona Cranberry toner and water. The toner, for the record, is great. My skin feels so taut and clean.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Well, not exactly. But if you have been following me on Twitter, you know by now, I have joined a gym. Currently, I am the size of a very fragile toothpick. My new gym is very ritzy and I love both working out and relaxing in the steam room. There are chandeliers (seriously!), the music is great, and everything is spotless.

Exercising is not all fun though. I planned on exercising as my big New Year's Resolution. My resolution was not to become as tall as a palm tree or appear in ad campaigns. Yesterday, there was this Amazonian model in the locker room who kind of stunned me, and not in a good way. I watched my ego shrivel, in utter horror. Girls, I think I trembled. I'm sorry. (Reminder: ask gym management to please hide the models in the broom closet.)

Luckily, for me, my new workout regimen is about health, and not appearances. Also, soon I will be just as toned as the Barbie-like ladies who frequent my sportif exercise palace! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

***Copy Charlotte

The luxury e-tailer Gilt Groupe has been on the same page as Eyeshadow Government, like, all week. On Thursday, Gilt will launch its second ever site-wide fitness event in partnership with Self magazine.

If you haven't started your New Year's Resolution yet, check out some of the great exercise apparel and shoes, the DVD by celebrity fitness expert Tracy Anderson, and the Sports Club LA deal on Gilt CITY.

Watching DVDs is an excellent way to get comfortable with the idea of exercising, and complements a gym workout too.